Page 79 of A Spark Of Revenge

“She just told him to shut up and get their units ready to fight,” Jesthren whispers, and I grin, suddenly liking the woman more.

“Should you be talking to him that way?” Elaine asks, her eyes narrowing on Senior Ivanov as he starts to shout at the men and women dressed in brown furs nearby.

“As Russian Shadow Elder, I do as I please,” Senior Regalis announces, and I frown. Shadow elder? I thought Ivanov was the head of the Russian Seniorem. From Elaine and Lennox’s expressions, they are also surprised by this new information.

“I apologize, Senior Regalis. We were unaware of your position. Our records stated that Senior Ivanov was the head of the Russian Seniorem,” Elaine says in a calm voice as she stands tall next to Lennox. A flash of blonde catches my attention, and I grin when I see Lemon Drop stomp down the stairs with her ever-loyal duo at her sides. Elaine’s son is practically skipping in excitement, and Ranger Jennings is standing protectively at Meyer’s back. She’s dressed in black fighting leathers and I notice she has on a few extras than before, probably from Ranger Jennings. He’s been extra protective of her since she came back to the castle and he discovered our true identities.

“Yes. That’s what we wanted your Seniorem to believe. Sexist swine,” Senior Regalis snaps. This makes Elaine's lips twitch in amusement, but she covers it well and nods as they begin to talk about the army of Umbra Hunters headed our way.

I barely make an attempt to pretend to listen to the conversation being held in front of me, choosing to watch my girl as she glares at Elaine’s son. She leans down, scooping up a handful of the snow at her feet before forming it into a ball and chucking it at his face, making him shout in surprise as Ranger Jennings falls into fits of laughter behind her.

Elaine’s son scowls and tries to bend over to make his own snowball, but Meyer simply kicks him in the butt as he bends over, making him faceplant into the snow. I chuckle as she laughs with Ranger Jennings at their friend's expense, and then she squeaks and turns, dashing in my direction. Jordan is hot on her heels as Theo stands, two snowballs in hand and determination on his young face.

Monroe happens to look up at that moment, his face turning a bright shade of red when he sees the Rangers goofing off, and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from growling at him as he yells and instructs them to their spots with their designated bloodlines. Meyer smirks but nods, doing as she’s told and heading toward Monroe who I smile at when he looks my way.

“Really?” he mouths at me, and I shrug and nod as he heaves a sigh when he sees my expression and tosses his hands up in the air, already knowing I won't be letting her out of my sight until Razar gets back and takes over as her guard.

Stepping away from the group, I snag Meyer by the waist, nuzzling my nose to the top of her hair, which is pulled up in a high ponytail. I grin when she immediately sinks into my hold, then tenses and glares up at me. Her defiance and stubbornness always make an appearance as she demands the respect she deserves, not letting me off the hook so simply. Her sweet citrus scent fills my senses as I breathe her in. It’s so similar to Valen’s, yet different.

“Hey, Lemon Drop,” I rasp, tugging her away from a scowling Ranger Jennings and toward Nox and our group. She comes willingly, blushing a little at the arched brows of the Russian Seniors, then nods at Jesthren when he offers her a friendly smile.

“Creed,” she whispers in greeting, and I mentally fist bump the air that she hasn't thrown an elbow to my side or tried to kick me in the balls. “What are you doing? I need to go stand with my bloodline. I don't know if you’ve heard or not, but there is an army of Umbra Hunters coming our way,” she snarks, and I chuckle.

“Ranger Smith,” Nox clips out, making Meyer tense. The amusement in her eyes vanishes as she looks over at Lennox, who is pushing through the circle of Seniors and stepping in front of us.

“Prince… shit. What's his name again?” she whispers up at me as she glares at Nox, who has apparently pissed her off once again. Surprise, surprise.

“Darakh,” I whisper back to her, smirking at Nox when he shoots me a dirty look. Meyer snaps her fingers and nods.

“Yeah, that,” she says, then looks up at a fuming Nox as he glowers down at her.

“Go back inside,” he snarls and she actually laughs, making my eyes widen in shock as Nox’s magic whips out from him like a weapon. It's enough that it has my knees quivering, and the Seniors behind us gasping and stumbling back from the raging Demon Prince. But Meyer looks totally unaffected as she shakes her head.

“No,” she growls back at Nox, making my brother's face turn an unnatural shade of purple.

“Meyer,” he growls under his breath in warning, his dominating magic filling the air and making me grunt in pain. Fuck, he’s getting strong! Jesthren flinches when Nox’s magic courses over his skin but doesn't look nearly as uncomfortable as I am.

“Lennox,” she replies, cracking her neck to the side and smirking, a dark challenge in her eyes as he studies her. But before he can do anything about it, the sound of the battle horns rings through the air, and we all freeze in shock.

What the hell? We were supposed to have a few more hours!

“Where’s Razar?” I shout at Nox as the courtyard suddenly springs into action. Hunters run for the wall in formation, the Rangers following behind as the Seniors start barking orders. The horn sounds again, and Meyer looks up at where the massive horn resides, squinting through the dark as she tries to see it. Fuck! I forgot she doesn't have the typical night vision that a regular Dream Walker has.

“He hasn’t returned,” Nox snaps, his confused eyes still on Meyer as Valen comes racing off the wall and toward us. Jesthren steps to my side and looks to Nox for instruction as Elaine walks over to the large horse near the gates.

“She’s not riding out to fight, is she?” I ask in surprise, then frown when Nox nods.

“Of course she is. Elaine is one of the best fighters we have, and she’s the head of the North American Seniorem. She’ll lose the respect of the Seniors if she doesn’t.”

“Axford never fought,” I point out, then pause and nod, getting Nox’s point. Axford may have had the support of the Seniorem, but only because they were corrupt or blackmailed into it.

“I’ll keep her with me,” Valen says, hand outstretched for Meyer, who glares at us all.

“I’ll be fighting with my bloodline,” Meyer corrects Valen, making him blink at her in surprise when she doesn't take his outstretched hand.

“Damn, stubborn…” Nox starts to grumble under his breath as he looks over his head at Elaine, who gestures him over to her. “Fuck! Fine. Get yourself killed,” Nox bellows at her, moving around Valen and snagging my arm as he walks toward Elaine. “Keep her in your sights at all times until Razar comes back. Am I understood?” he hisses into my ear as Valen steps closer to Meyer, who is already backing away and heading toward the Regalis bloodline Hunters.

“Absolutely,” I agree, hand falling to the extra sword I have sheathed at my side as I watch Nox stride confidently toward Elaine and mount the big black horse waiting for him. The howls of a Beastia in the distance echo through the night air, and I shiver as the peaceful feeling I had before now dies, leaving an aching pool of dread in its place.

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